title: Abdominal aortic aneurysms in sheep: prevention of rupture with endoluminal stent-grafts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors evaluated the ability of an aortic balloon-expandable endovascular stent-graft to prevent rupture in a model of spontaneously rupturing abdominal aortic aneurysms in sheep.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aneurysms were created in 16 sheep by inserting a 60 x 18-mm segment of the left internal jugular vein, end-to-end anastomosed, to the sectioned infrarenal abdominal aorta. The sheep were randomly assigned into two groups; eight animals underwent endovascular implantation of an 80 x 12-mm balloon expandable stent-graft (group A), and eight were only followed up (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group B, seven of eight animals had died of aneurysmal rupture by 3 months. In group A, six of the eight aortic aneurysms were immediately excluded, and six animals were alive at 3 months without rupture. The 3-month survival rate was 100% in group A and 12% in group B (P = .0023). Macro- and microscopic analysis of the section of the aorta in which the stent-graft had been placed revealed rapid retraction of the aneurysmal sac.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placement of an endovascular stent-graft induced regression of a branchless aneurysm and prevented rupture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Boudghène
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sapoval
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonneau
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: LeBlanche
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lavaste
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D012756:Sheep; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015607:Stents; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D013193:Stainless Steel